Electric switch



Ap 1949- J. R. CALDWELL ETAL 2,465,374

ELECTRIC SWITCH F iled Dec.

L5 fin w WC 8 N 0 H wr I n.

INVENTORS BY @JW AGENT.

Patented Apr. 5, 1949 nam- ELECTRIC swrrcn John R. Caldwell and ThomasE. Curtis, Hampton, Ga., asslgnors to-Southern States EquipmentCorporation, a corporation of Georgia Application December 14, 1946,Serial No. 7 l6,334

This invention relates to high voltage electric switches of the type inwhich the switch-arm is first moved into its closed-circuit location andthen heavy pressure is developed-betweengthe switch-arm and thestationary contacts; and it refers particularly to rotating theswitch-arm and 1 Claims. f (Cl. 200-48) thereby producing the heavycontact pressure. One purpose is to provide a direct and positive meansto rotate the arm but only when the arm is in closed circuit location:another purpose is to avoid latches, springs, hooks, or other limitingdevices to accomplish this purpose; a third object is to provide amechanism that transmits and applies the operating. power directly andwith a minimum of heavy stresses due to unfavorable leverages. Otherobjects will be evi I dent from the specification and claims.

tacts 24-24. Bolt-25 serves as astop to prevent over-travel of end 23,and also it provides a means to adjust the 24-24. I

Terminal I1 carries two longitudinal ridges 26-26 which engage withhinge contact members spacing ofjaw contacts .2'l-2'I when the switch isfully closed. Line terminal 28 is boltedtohin e-base I; and lineterminal. 29 is electricallyconnected with jaw contact 24-24. g

Operation is as follows. jWith'the switch'fully closed as shown, thereis heavypressure between end contact 23 and jaw contacts 24-24. Alsoridges 26-26 arein heavy pressure contact with In the drawings, Fig. 1shows a small scale view I of one pole of one type of switch embodyingthis invention; Fig. 2 shows in larger scale a side view of the hingeend of the switch; Fig. 3 shows a view of the rocker from the direction3-3;

hinge contacts 21-21. When the crank 5 is turned, crank'li and rod I6and member I5 act to move rocker l0 counterclockwise. This moves rockerswing pivot I4 from its position on line C towards a position on line D.Arc AAA is drawn Fig. 4 is a top view of the hinge members; Fig. 5

is an end view of the Jaw contact end of. the switch; and Fig. 6 is anexpanded diagram explaining one of the operating principles involved.

The base I carries two stationary insulators 2, 3' and the rotatinginsulator 4, whichis operable by the crank 5. Integral with theinsulator unit 4 is the crank't. The-insulator 3 car-- ries the hingebase I which provides a steady bearing for the top of insulator unit '4.The switch-arm structure 8 includes the switch-arm hinge 2|, and therotative switch-arm. The rotative switch-arm includes the terminal IIwith itsextension I8 and its bearing shaft I9 and the collar 20, alsothe tubular arm 22 with its fiattened end contact 23. The entireswitch-arm by the hinge pivots 9-9; and the rocker I0 is also hinged tobase I by the long stationary rocker hinge pivot II. The link I2 in theform ofa bellcrank is mounted on the fourth pivot I3 which is secured tothe switch-arm hinge 2|: and the upper arm of link l2 receives therocker swing pin I4 which is supported by rocker I0 and which servesalso as the pivot for the universal joint member l5 which in turn isconnected by the operating rod It to the crank 6. v

The bearing shaft I9 is supported by its bearing in switch-arm hinge 2|,and the extension l8 on terminal II fits loosely through a hole in thelower arm of link I2. The tubular extension 22 is integral with terminalI1, and the flattened end contact 23 is engageable by the jaw conaboutthe center I I and are BBB is drawn about the center I3. These arcsclosely coincide for .a considerable distance and there is enough playin various joints to allow motion of pin I4 from line C to line Dwithout substantially changing the location of pin I3. But link I2 hasthereby been definitely rotated counter-clockwise, there by liftingextension I8, and so terminal I1 and tube 22 are rotated suiiiciently torelieve the pressures between these members and contacts 21-21 and24-24, respectively. Thereupon the switcharm structure is free to moveupwardly.

Further motion of crank 5 continues the counter-clockwise motion ofrocker I0. But link I2 keeps pin I3 at a'fixed distance from pin I4, andtherefore as are AAA becomes separated from arc BBB pin I3 is liftedfrom its former position I and so switch-arm structure 8 is lifted.Ultistructure is pivotally hinged to the hinge base I crank I2 clockwiseand so extension I 8 is forced.

mately these members reach the position shown by dotted lines in Fig. 2and the switch is fully I open.

In closing the switch, the reverse motions occur. When the rocker swingpivot l4 reaches its position at line D the end 23 is well between thejaw contacts 24-24, and the ridges 26-26 are between hinge contacts21-21, motion of rocker swing pivot l4 from line D to line C turnsbelldownward. This gives ample leverage to turn terminal I1 and end 23so that heavy pressure contact is again establishedwithjaws 21-2! and24-24, and the switch is again fully'closed.

The jointsat' 8 and at I9 may beibridged'xif' desired by a suitableflexible conductorelectri, cally connected from base I to socket I'I;thereby" replacing the function of projections 26-26 and o s-u 3 laws"-21. Various other changes also can be made by one familiar with theart without departing from the purpose and spirit of this invention.

we claim:

1. In an electric switch, a first insulated support and a contactmounted thereon. a second insulated support and a hinge pivot mountedthereon, a switch-arm structure that comprises a switch-arm hingemovable about the hinge pivot and a switch-arm that is supported by theswitcharm hinge and is rotative about its longitudinal axis and iscooperable withthe said contact, a contact on the second insulatedsupport and a projection on the switch-arm that is engageable by thiscontact, a rocker hinge pivot mounted on the second insulated support inspaced relation to the hinge pivot, a rocker movable about the rockerhinge pivot, a rocker swing pivot in the swing end of the rocker, afourth pivot in the switch-arm hinge in spaced relation to the hingepivot, a link in the form of a bellcrank pivoted on the fourth pivot andwith one arm held by the rocker swing pivot and the other arm connectedwith the switch-arm, together with means to move the rocker and therebyto rotate the switcharm and so change the pressures between theswitch-arm and the contacts.

2. In an electric switch, a first insulated support and a jaw contactmounted thereon, a second insulated support and a hinge pivot mountedthereon, a switch-arm structure that comprises a switch-arm hingemovable about the hinge pivot and a switch-arm that is supported by theswitch-arm hinge and is rotative about its own longitudinal axis'and iscooperable with the Jaw contact, a rocker hinge pivot mounted on thesecond insulated support in spaced relation to the hinge pivot, a rockermounted on the rocker hinge pivot, a rocker swing pivot in the swing endof the rocker and movable only in a fixed are about the said rockerhinge pivot, a fourth pivot supported by the switch-arm hinge in spacedrelation to the hinge pivot, a link directly connecting the rocker swingpivot with the fourth pivot, the rocker swing pivot being movable withthe rocker and the link through a certain part of their travel withoutcausing change in the location of said fourth pivot, and membersoperable in response to motion of the link during the said certain partof its travel to cause rotation of said switch-arm about itslongitudinal axis, together with mechanism to move the rocker andthereby to operate the switch.

3. In an electric switch, a first insulated support and a contactmounted thereon, a second insulated support and a hinge pivot mountedthereon, a switch-arm structure that is mounted on said hinge pivot andthat includes a switcharm hinge and a switch-arm that is rotatable aboutits own longitudinal axis and is cooperable with said contact, a rockerhinge pivot mounted on said second insulated support in spaced relationto the hinge pivot, a rocker mounted on said rocker hinge pivot, arocker swing pivot in the swing end of the rocker and which is movableonly in a fixed are about the said rocker pivot, a fourth pivot in theswitcharm structure spaced away from the hinge Divot, a link connectingthe rocker swing pivot with the said fourth pivot, and connecting meansbetween the link and the rotatable switch-arm operable to rotate theswitch-arm in response to motion of said link.

4. In an electric switch, a first insulated support and a Jew contactmounted thereon. a second insulated support and a hinge pivot mountedthereon, a switch-arm structure that is mounted on said hinge pivot andthat includes a switcharm that is rotatable about its own longitudinalaxis and that is eooperable with said contact. a rocker hinge pivotmounted on said second insulated support in spaced relation to saidhinge pivot, a rocker mounted on said rocker hinge pivot, a rocker swingpivot in the swing and o! the rocker and which is movable only in an arcabout the said rocker hinge pivot, a fourth pivot in the switch-armstructure spaced away from the hinge pivot, a link in the form of abellcrank mounted on the fourth pivot and with one arm pivoted upon therocker swing pivot and the other arm engageable with the switch-arm torotate the switch-arm when in its closed position and thereby to varythe pressure between the switch-arm and the contact.

5. In an electric switch, a first insulated support and a contactmounted thereon, a second insulated support with a hinge pivot and alsoa contact mounted thereon, a switch-arm hinge 35 mounted on the hingepivot and supporting a switch-arm that is rotatabl about its ownlongitudinal axis and that is cooperable with both of said contacts, astationary rocker hinge pivot mounted on said second insulated supportin spaced relation to said hinge pivot, a rocker mounted on said rockerhinge pivot, a rocker swing pivot in the swing end of the rocker, afourth pivot mounted in the switch-arm hinge and spaced away from thehinge pivot, a link directly connecting the fourth pivot to the rocker50 gitudinal axis and is cooperable with the said contact, a contact onthe second insulated support and a contact surface on the switch-armthat is engageable with this contact, a rocker hinge pivot mounted onthe second insulated support in spaced relation to the hinge pivot; arocker movable about the rocker hinge pivot, a rocker swing pivot in theswing end of the rocker, a fourth pivot in the switch-arm hinge inspaced relation to the hinge pivot, a link in the form of a bellcrankpivoted on the fourth pivot and with one arm held by the rocker swingpivot and the other arm connected with the switch-arm, together withmeans to move the rocker and thereby to rotate the switch-arm and sochange the pressures between the switch-arm and the contacts.

'7. In an electric switch, a first insulated sup-- port and a jawcontact mounted thereon, a second insulated support and a hinge pivotmounted thereon, a switch-arm structure that comprises a switch-armhinge movable about the hinge pivot and a switch-arm that is supportedby the switch-arm hinge and that is rotative about its longitudinal axisand is cooperable with the said contact, a second contact on the saidsecond insulated support and a projection on the rotative the pressuresbetween the switch-arm and the switch-arm that is engageable with thesaid seccontacts.

ond contact, a rocker hinge pivot mounted on JOHN R. CALDWELL. thesecond insulated support in spaced relation THOMAS E. CURTIS. to saidhinge pivot, a'iocker movably mounted 5 upon the rocker hinge pivot, arocker swing pivot REFERENCES CITED in the Swing end of e rocker andmovable with The following references are of record in the the rockeronly in a fixed are about the said file of t patent: rocker hinge pivot,a link between the rocker swing pivot and the switch-arm structure with10 UNITED STATES PATENTS a connection also to the rotative switch-arm,Number v Name Date together with means to move the rocker and 2,276,257Caldwell Mar. 10, 1942 thereby to rotate the switch arm and so change2,303,119 Froland Nov. 24, 1942

